Chapter 141 - A Storm

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

In the following time, the audience was totally absorbed in watching the performances.

Although only a total of eight singers sang on the stage, because of the Holographic Projection Technology dragging the time, everyone didn’t feel bored throughout the show. The whole place was filled with waves of screams and applause—there wasn’t even a need for Zhang Cai to hype up the atmosphere. The entire West Fourth Loop Stadium was always high in spirits and hyped up for the whole show.

For the following singers, the holographic projection continued to show its prowess. From the ocean to a forest, and even a snow-capped mountain, etc. The wide array of projections almost made the audience’ eyes pop out of their sockets.

Everyone went crazy!

The audience cheered their lungs out, wave after wave. When they met with songs they knew, the whole crowd even sang along with the singer!

It came to the point that, when Zhang Cai came out to give the closing speech, the countless audience still wanted more and strongly urged for an encore! Zhang Cai didn’t doubt that even if Young Master Dali, who always sang off the pitch, came up for a performance, he would still receive enthusiastic applause from all the audience present—as long as the holographic projection was present!

Of course, the show had to be finished at a certain time. Although Zhang Cai also hoped that the show could be longer, she still had to follow the rules. It was time for the final segment of the show, where the audience would rate and vote for the singers.

“Dear ladies and gentlemen, it’s now time to vote for the eight singers.” Zhang Cai, who was wearing an evening gown, had holographic stars revolving around her, making her look like a star goddess. Using her most gentle and pleasant voice, she said. “Tonight, the singers have undergone waves of assessment, and we have gathered 5,000 enthusiastic audience members to vote for the best singers in their minds. Each audience member can choose their three favorite singers, then press the communicator in your hand. After verification by the judges to ensure that the results are fair, we will then calculate the most popular singer.”

“Now, let the voting begin!”

In the following period of voting, it was no surprise that Chu Zhongqin won the first place with a large margin—the 5000 voters were all given a high-tech smartphone worth 800 yuan, making the result inevitable. In reality, as this was the first time performing in the show and as an elder in the music industry, he performed as if it were a matter of life or death. No one expressed their dissatisfaction towards the fact that he received the first position in this episode.

The second to seventh positions were then as follows: Jiang Ruoyu, Xia Yuyao, Liu Yuqiong, Fei Chang, Yang Jun, Li Wei.

The last position belonged to Xiong Mao.

This result was within the expectations of the audience, but it was not easy for Jiang Ruoyu to get the second place despite performing first. What was certain was that after tonight, the popularity of these singers would rise at the speed of a rocket.

The storm brought about by “I Am a Singer” swept through the entire country that night.

Tianjing Satellite TV.

Huang Taichang desperately dialed the number to contact Zhang Cai of Caiwei Entertainment. “Hello, is this Miss Zhang Cai? Ah, yes, yes, I’m Huang Zhongyang, the director of Tianjing TV. Haha, right. About that, Miss Zhang Cai,” Huang Zhongyang took a deep puff of his cigarette before wiping out the cigarette butt. “Our Beijing Satellite TV intends to pay one million yuan per episode to get the exclusive rights to the show ‘I Am a Singer.’ Could Miss Zhang Cai help in this matter?”

As the director of the TV station, Huang Zhongyang always had eyes above the top of his head. Although he couldn’t do whatever he liked, at least wherever he went, people in the entertainment circle would have to give him a face. Before, when Zhao Weichang, the president of Warwick Television, wanted to broadcast a TV series at 8:00 PM, he even had to tread carefully when talking with Huang Zhongyang.

However, it was now Director Huang that had to carefully ask Zhang Cai to grant him the exclusive rights to broadcast “I Am a singer,” and he had to even pay a high price for it. This could really be said to be what goes around, comes around.

“Okay, please wait a moment, I will need to ask Young Master’s opinion.” Zhang Cai smiled back and said. After leaving for a while, she replied, “Our Young Master has agreed, but on the condition that there are no advertisements inserted in the middle of the show.”

“I understand! I understand!” After hearing the reply, Huang Zhongyang almost wanted to rush to Hong Dali to hug and kiss him on the face.

At this point, no one cared about advertisements. With the exclusive rights to broadcast the show, Tianjing Satellite TV’s viewer’s ratings would at least double!

With such ratings, why would one still bother to sell advertisement slots? Moreover, after managing to buy this episode, it was equivalent to buying the exclusive rights for the next nine episodes! With just this exclusive right, the rise of Tianjing Satellite TV was more or less assured!

Putting down the phone, Huang Zhongyang’s forehead was covered in cold sweat. He then dialed another number—

“I want you to immediately remove all the programs from 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM tomorrow night,” Director Huang screamed into the phone. “Every one of them! Not even one advertisement is allowed! All the programs have to give way to ‘I Am a Singer’! If I were to find that any advertisement had disrupted the look and feel of the show, you can roll out of the company, do you understand?!”

Shanghai’s Tianhai City, So Cool Information and Culture Development Private Limited headquarters, So Cool Video Building Twelfth floor, inside a small meeting room.

“Director Wu, about this time’s ‘I Am a Singer’ exclusive network rights…” “Yes, we absolutely can’t miss out this time around! From what we have gathered from Old Jiang and the pictures on the phone, it’s definitely the Holographic Projection Technology!”

In the conference room, all seven of So Cool company’s executives gathered together. The one seated in the main seat was dressed in a suit, with a bright face and neatly combed hair. He was the president of the So Cool Enterprise, Wu Youdao.

“Let me say it.” This time, no one bothered to talk nonsense, Wu Youdao said directly, “To tell the truth, I have already discussed the issue of “I Am a Singer” with Miss Zhang Cai before. The network exclusive rights will cost us 1.5 million per episode for a total of ten episodes. As to how much resources to allocate for the show, it will be up to you all to decide.”

After he finished speaking, there was a brief silence before the whole conference room exploded in a frenzy!

“Director Wu, are you sure that it’s us that are giving them 1.5 million?! Every episode?!” “This… this… we have to spend money to ask them to let us broadcast their show?!”

“I know what everyone is worried about.” Wu Youdao said slowly. “I will not beat around the bush. ‘I Am a Singer’ is definitely worth the price. Whenever the Young Master organizes something, it’s definitely different. None of the people who have seen the live show said that the show was bad. In fact, it’s us who have gotten it cheap. Other competitors even bid a sky-high price of three million, but in the end, they were still declined as the Young Master felt that we have had a good partnership before.

“There are already three or four domestic video streaming websites. If we don’t take them, we will lose out. Just by the response during the “I Am a Singer” live show, I absolutely believe that the Young Master did not cheat me.

“So, we would rather earn less and get the rights of the show than lose it to others. If the exclusive rights to the show are taken by other websites, I’m sure that within a month, we will have a new strong competitor emerging. And it’s very much possible that they might even take us down.”

After he had said his piece, Wu Youdao took in a deep breath and asked, “What do you all think?”

“I agree.” Everyone nodded their heads. “We have seen the live show. Its response was definitely stunning.”

“Director Wu, I suggest that it’s best for us to allocate the best resources for the show.” One of the executives below said. “Better than when we broadcastedUnexpectedly! last time!”

“Then, it’s decided. Tomorrow at 8:00 PM, the show will be broadcasted together with Tianjing Satellite TV.” Director Wu decided.

The next day, Wednesday.

In the morning, almost all streets and alleys in the whole country were covered with flyers about “I Am a Singer.” Numerous news reports about “I Am a Singer” were spreading fast.

In the beginning, the earliest insider news first spread from the mouth of a teenager in the West Fourth Loop of Tianjing City. It then swept through the entire internet, and then, it was covered by the various entertainment media companies.

The news all had a common point.

Tonight at 8:00 PM, Tianjing Satellite TV would be broadcasting the show without any advertisements in between.

And at the same time, “I Am a Singer” would also be broadcasted on So Cool Video website, with the best resources.

Everyone in the world waited in anticipation.

“Have you heard about ‘I Am a Singer’?” one person asked his colleague.

“I have heard of it, but what’s so good about it? Isn’t it just an ordinary talent show?” The other party was unaware of the latest happenings.

The latter immediately became proud. The latter laughed and said, “An ordinary talent show? It’s indeed a talent show, but there’s nothing ordinary about it. The singers of the show itself can only be regarded as normal celebrities, but what’s impressive is the atmosphere at the live show. It was absolutely stunning!”

“A talent show can be so impressive?!” The colleague was shocked.

“That’s a must. Whenever Dali produces something, it must be the best!” With a big laugh, he said, “Go watch the broadcast, it will surely not let you down. I received a photo my cousin sent me. Ai, I’m unable to use words to describe how good it was.”

“So impressive?!” The colleague silently thought: It’s said to broadcast at 8:00 PM tonight. I must definitely take a look when the time comes!

Such a scene appeared in countless offices, and everyone seemed filled with energy. They waited until 8:00 PM in the evening to go home and watch “I Am a Singer,” to see if it were really as shocking as what everyone said it to be. Whether or not Dali’s production was the best!

Of course, many people were caught by their bosses because of the discussion. Then, without exception, the bosses also expressed deep curiosity about this so-called biggest show in history. Thus, the staff were not punished but even gained their bosses’ praise…